Module 2 Flashcards
External and internal factors that can affect the migration path of a contaminant
- atmospheric pressure
- temp
- wind currents
- humidity
- topography
- amount and concentration of pollutant
- precipitation
- human intervention
- soil composition
- fat solubility
- partitioning mechanisms(chemical and physical reactions)
Types of partitioning mechanisms
1) volatilization
2) dissolution
3) sorption
Explain volatilization
- > liquid - air and solid - air interface
- > transfers volatile contaminants from water and solid surfaces into the atmosphere
- > contaminants are most mobile
Explain dissolution
- > solid - liquid and air - liquid interfaces
- > transfers contaminants from air and solids to water
Explain sorption
- > liquid -solid and air - solid interfaces
- >transfers contaminants from water and air to soil and sediments
How do you predict the partitioning behaviour of contaminants in the environment?
Using intermolecular attractive forces between contaminants
Define PCBs
Poly-chlorinated biphenyls
Technically a semi volatile
TPHs
Total petroleum hydrocarbons
Petroleum is a mixture of organic compounds ranging from gas (natural gas) form to liquid (crude oil) form to solid (asphalt, tar) form
VOC
Volatile organic compounds
A class of volatile organics that stem from industrial and domestic uses. Not natural and are carcinogenic
PAH
Poly-nuclear aromatic hydrocarbons
All carcinogenic and are by-products of petroleum processing and combustion
Organic compounds that have detrimental effects on living organisms
Pcb, tph, voc, pah
What are some inorganic pollutant/ which is the most significant
Aluminum, lead, copper,arsenic
Arsenic is the most significant (deposited from the combustion of fossil fuels and mining)
Define Biomagnification
Increase in contaminant [] from one tropic level to the next
Synonyms: bio amplification and trophic enrichment
Worse for fat soluble compounds
